Thoughts on trailers.....and roof storage.

[Dazco]

Top tip for trailer, ive got a 3" fishing rod section fixed to the rear offside corner with a small Union jack ( other flags are permitted). Quick glance in the mirror and you can see it , makes reversing a doddle as you can see ass soon as its veering off course .

[randamonia]

Thanks for all the advice folks. A mixed bag response which is what I was expecting/hoping for and some great advice. I haven't towed a trailer for a long time but used to work at a watersports center and trailer reversing competitions at the end of day were a regular occurrence, so hopefully I can get the Knack back.....hmm not convinced!!!

I think based on this i'm erring on the side of getting a trailer. The whole wet awning scenario and being ready to go are the biggest sways for me. We tend to always take the awning to give the young jedi some extra space under cover if needed rather than climbing the walls of the van (she has far far too much energy). Add to that I don't understand how it can take my missus so long to get out of the house (she'll kill me for this!!!) so this might really help.

If I can get a half decent trailer for a good price and look after it I would hope to get my money back if I find it doesn't work out. Right, anyone selling a trailer?

[PetenAli]

This is our solution:


Works well for us - especially now we have the excellent Jack Bombay struts.

This thread shows more detail about whet we use on long trips abroad. http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=135370" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It gives us plenty of storage space without chairs etc flying around inside. It doesn't add appreciably to fuel consumption either. We had a problem before the JB struts went on as will be seen in the thread but that is now resolved..

E D I T - Ooops - didn't read the initial thread properly to see that randamonia has a high top so this is all a bit redundant really. Still, I'll leave it in case its of interest to someone.

[Cob20]

Right, anyone selling a trailer?

There's a decent one in the classifieds for £240

[Tobias13]

Made this 2 yrs ago before I had the van and we just camped!! It was awesome, plenty of space and dry!!

We did what you have in mind, it stays fully loaded, hitch up and go!!

Don't use it much now so would consider selling if any good to you!!

Owes me about 700 but I know I won't get that, it's quite big!!

[Cob20]

Made this 2 yrs ago before I had the van and we just camped!! It was awesome, plenty of space and dry!!

We did what you have in mind, it stays fully loaded, hitch up and go!!

Don't use it much now so would consider selling if any good to you!!

Owes me about 700 but I know I won't get that, it's quite big!!

Jesus! Surely all that's missing is a rock n roll and some windows!

[Tobias13]

haha!!

I originally did it in fancy hardwood and had a shelf in it which doubled up as a bed!!

Like sleeping in a coffin!!!

[Cob20]

haha!!

I originally did it in fancy hardwood and had a shelf in it which doubled up as a bed!!

Like sleeping in a coffin!!!

Ingenious!

Can't fault the size of it. There can't be much you can't fit in that bad boy.

I'm not showing it the wife. I told her mine was average sized.








The trailer. The trailer!

[nordberg]

Personally I think you are making the right decision based on the criteria you have laid down. I would say make sure you get one that fits all of the things you want to take with a little extra room, but the smaller the better. Perhaps lay down all of your kit on the garage floor and see what you predict you can get away with (just an idea). The picture i posted earlier in the thread was an extreme example of how I modified / customized a second hand trailer to fit a purpose, then modified again when we gained the flexibility of it being towed by another vehicle. Good luck in your search.

PS. Just bought this Fiamma Ultra Box for a bit extra storage. Seems to give us the flexibility we need when we don't require the drive away awning.

[hakuna matata]

this is what i did last summer , and ive renewed my poptop roof struts ,heavey duty ones
.

neil .

[anaconda]

We use a roof box with our tintop, mainly for the stuff you won't use routinely, like car jack a few tools. We camp in France so also hold our awning (Quechua pop up) in there and anything we won't be needing on our stop off camps on the way further south. I reckon I'd be panicking the whole way of I was dragging something behind!

[boxer]

I think if i was going to tow I'd need more power first (1.6td). I've spent ages getting the van weight down and it's approaching drivable so, even though its got a tow bar I can't see me using it. Mind you the big trailer of Tobias13's would accommodate Gills cloths, well the ones she brings in case we strike a wintry patch during a South of France summer. I could even stand it on end and she could have a walk in wardrobe. I kid you not, in total this time she wore only 4 pairs of shoes out of a total of 8 pairs taken and one pair that was still in the van from last year that she hadn't missed. And. She bought another pair while we were away!

[longchops]

Hi folks, I'm new to the forum and have a question regarding the luggage/cargo area at the rear of a high top / komet roof. I have a Leisuredrive high top conversion and need to know if it safe to carry an awning in a roof bag/cargo carrier, simply strapped down to the existing bars. I have asked Leisuredrive but they have declined to provide advice, presumably for legal reasons due to the age of the van etc.
I have trawled the net for images of vans with the area being used for actual cargo transport but have struggled to find anything. 

Any assistance is much appreciated.

ps - trying to paste an image but to no avail...



 

[Mocki]

[Mocki]

My previous camper had a leisuredrive roof,they are much stronger than you think, certainly stronger (and heavier) than the autosleeper roof on our other van

This a 3 man inflatable kayak , pump life jackets , well over 40kg on the roof

And again